This week, I got an opportunity to spend a few days on the new Sony WH-1000XM6 over-ear-noise headphone. I have been an AVID chain fan since I was-1000xm2 and shaking XM5S for the last two years. I found the upgrade very satisfactory from XM4S to XM5S – lighter build, better noise cancellation, and better microphone made noticeable differences. So I am happy that Soni is stuck with a similar design this year.
Sony brought back something from the previous model – flexibility. The foldable hinges in the-1000xm6 and fit in a more compact case. This is a practical upgradation for those who travel with their headphones and want to preserve them. This case is easier to open in itself compared to the cumbersome zipper on the smooth, compact and strange XM5 case. Inside, the standard for charging is 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable and a small USB cable.
Sony wh-1000xm6 unboxing
The headphones are slightly heavier than the XM5S (246 g), but still lighter than XM4S (251.6 g). Design and materials are similar to the-1000xm5. Sony opted to round the shape of the power button, so it is difficult to make a mistake for the rectangular noise-standing/ambient mode button next to it. The touch control remains unchanged from the previous model.
Sony WH-1000xm6 Design
Listening experience is fantastic. Sony upgraded the noisy processor, and the active noise-rating (ANC) is once again one of the best in the industry. For most users, however, ANC will sound similar to XM5S; Improvement is not as important as leaps from XM4S to XM5S. The experience of listening to music is also like a previous model. Sony’s sound connect app provides a equalizer and a user -friendly “Find your equalizer” wizard to enjoy a custom sound for all.
Sony app screenshot
Sony also added a “hearing mode” feature to the Sound Connect app, which seems exclusive to the WH-1000xm6. You can choose between “standard”, “background music” and “cinema”. “Background Music” adjusts the sound to simulate a distant environment, such as a living room or cafe. “Cinema” is used for video content and simulates a movie theater environment capable of Sony’s 360 reality audio upmix technology. This feature will not be a cup of everyone’s tea, but I believe it can be helpful for those who work with headphones and would like a calm environment or film-speech.
The quality of microphones and calls is normally my largest pet in the WH-1000xm series. Since I use daily headphones, I make many phone calls while wearing them. On the other side of the call, people have complained for years that it is difficult to hear in the noise environment. With WH-1000XM5, Sony eventually improved the microphone setup, which featured the eight-microphone array and AI noise rejection algorithm. Even with upgraded setups, the microphone still left a lot to be desired when used in a noisy environment, such as a busy road. The initial microphone test shows the same results on the-1000xm6, although more intensive testing is required.
Still even after a few days with him I am convinced that Sony WH-1000xm6 is one of the best options for anc over-ear headphone. They are mild and compact, offering excellent noise-redemption to music and audio quality. However, budget-conscious buyers may be better than choosing the old WH-1000xm5 model. In my opinion, anyone using WH-1000xm4 or old model will get the value of your money by upgrading.
